Analizing A Piece from Choriographer Crystal Pite

In this blog, I will be analysing choreography from 'The Seasons' Canon' by Crystal Pite, in particular,

the Spring section.  (You Tube, 2018)


After watching the choreography a few times, I've interpreted the movement to portray the migration of birds and the awakening of a swarm of insects and other animals after a cold winter. In the beginning Pite positioned a group of dancers in a huddle slowly rising to face a glimmering golden light which shines brighter as the performance continues, which I think could represent animals coming out of hibernation. The dancers then proceed to rise, fall and swerve in unison which gave me the impression the Pite could possibly have used starlings as her stimulus for this section. It also reminded me of the almost hivemind that animals seem to adopt when in migration patterns. The unnatural contorted and sharp movements Pite used in the second section is what reminded me of a swarm of insects. The stance the dancers take almost seems to be in worship of the sun. This again hints at the possible theme of how animals and previously human lives revolve around the seasons alongside the rising of the sun.


For the costuming Pite chose for the dancers to be in baggy trousers with a nude leotard underneath and hair slicked back out of the face. I think Pite's intention with this costuming choice was to allow the audience to focus on the message behind the movement rather than an elaborate costume. I also like how the dancers are in earthy-toned baggy trousers as I feel it gives the piece a more grounded and natural feel than bare legs would have.


Something that I admired about this piece that I would like to develop in my choreography is spacing. I loved how Pite effectively and seamlessly transitioned the dancers between formations, and this is definitely something I feel was lacking in my own choreography.


Bibliography:

Pivot, K., n.d. Crystal Pite | Biographies. [online] Nac-cna.ca. Available at: <https://nac-cna.ca/en/bio/crystal-pite> [Accessed 22 November 2020].


You Tube, 2018. Crystal Pite The Seasons' Canon ( Spring ). [video] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fuJ9LQ80lE&feature=youtu.be> [Accessed 22 November 2020].

Larine, J., 2020. Crystal Pite The Seasons' Canon ( Spring ). [online] Dance Channel TV. Available at: <https://dancechanneltv.com/blog/2020/08/11/crystal-pite-the-seasons-canon-spring/> [Accessed 2 December 2020].

Chan, E., 2019. The Paris Opera Ballet Performs Crystal Pite’S “The Seasons’ Canon”: Esplanade’S Da:Ns Series 2019. [online] ArtsEquator. Available at: <https://artsequator.com/paris-opera-ballet-esplanade-dans-series-2019/> [Accessed 3 November 2020].

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